Pass case construction having removable envelopes



Feb. 6, 1951 D. J. BROUGHTON PASS CASE CONSTRUCTION HAVING REMOVABLE ENVELOPES 2 Sheets Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1948 a INVENTOR flg J Doom AS J 5800611700 ATTORNEYS Pain. 6, 1951 D. J. BROUGHTON 2,540,423

PASS CASE CONSTRUCTION HAVING REMQVABLE ENVELUPES Filed May 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 170001 A: JB/wum/ro/v ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1951 PASS CASE CONSTRUCTION HAVING REB'IOVABLE ENVELOPES Douglas J. Broughton, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Buxton, Incorporated, Springfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,766

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to pass cases of the type used separately or in combination with billfolds for carrying pass or identification cards, photographs and the like.

More particularly it relates to a pass case of the above character in which the pass carrying envelopes are detachably held to the covers of the case in a manner so that they may be removed, replaced or interchanged.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a pass case having the above advantages but of simplified construction and which permits easy removal or replacement of the envelopes.

A further object is to provide a construction in which the envelopes themselves are relieved of substantially all strain from the means by which they are secured to the cover.

Other and further objects residing in the details of construction will be made apparent from the following specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a pass case embodying the invention, the covers being closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pass case open;

Fig. 3 is a view of an envelope unit removed from the case, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view of the case with all the envelopes removed;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking pin;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale substantially on line 6--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the envelopes swung to one side of the hinge;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary generally perspective views of alternative construction of one of the hinge members; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction in which the case forms part of a billfold.

Referring to the drawings, the cover of the case, generally indicated at I comprises a front member 2, a back member 3, and a closure member 4 which extends from one end of the rear cover member. The closure member carries one element 5 of a snap fastener adapted to engage a second fastener element 6 carried by the front member 2.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the front and rear cover members are formed as separate pieces. The adjacent ends of the cover members 2 and 3 are formed with marginal portions, indicated respectively at I and 8 which, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, are turned inwardly of the case and stitched together by a line of stitching 9. One of the cover members (the front cover as shown) is provided with a tongue portion Il'l extending centrally from the edge of marginal portion 1 and bent to form an open ended loop I l, the free end of the tongue being included in the line of stitching 9. The stitched together marginal portions 1 and 8 form a hinge about which the cover members swing in Opening or closing the case and the loop II extends inward of the case, in general alignment with the hinge, to form one member of the envelope securing means.

The envelopes are each formed of a sheet of transparent cellulose sheeting or similar suitable material which is folded as at l2, Fig. 3, to form opposed walls 53 and 14, one wall, as 13, having an extended portion 15 which is folded over the free edge of the other wall l4 and flatly against the outer face of the latter. The extending portion l5 may be secured by a transparent cement or merely held in place by inherent tendency of the material to maintain the crease at its lines of fold. The envelopes thus formed are open at both ends and the adjacent ends of a pair of envelopes are telescoped over and cemented to the outer edge portions of a hinge strip I6 as shown at IT in Fig. 3.

The central portion of the hinge strip I6 is provided with an elongated opening I9 adapted to fit over the loop member l l as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The pair of envelopes connected by the hinge strip l5 form a unit and one or a desired number of such units may be placed in superposed relation with the loop I l extending through the aligned openings of the units as best shown in Fig. 6. A locking pin 20 is inserted through the loop as shown in Fig. 2. The pin 20 is of greater length than the loop I l and of transverse diameter to fit snugly and with frictional resistance to its movement in the loop. As is apparent from Fig. 2, the extension of the ends of the pin beyond the ends of the openings l9, hold the units to the covers. Preferably pin 20 is provided with a head 2| for easier handling.

As shown in Figs. 6 and '7 the transverse width of the hinge strips H5 or their openings I9 are such that the envelopes may be swung from one side of the pin to the other when the case is closed or in viewing the contents of the several envelopes.

If desired the front and rear covers 3 and 2 may be cut from a single piece and integrally connected by a narrow portion 22 as in Fig. 9, the adjacent edge portions 23 being bent inwardly, similar to edge portions 1 and 8 previously 3 described, and stitched together a at 24, the portion 22 forming the loop II for the reception of pin 20.

The construction above described permits easy removal of the units from the case or their insertion therein. The strain of holding the envelopes in the case and in manipulating them are imposed on the connecting members l6, which are preferably formed of thin leather or fabric or other material similarly adapted to withstand such strains. Both the units and the case are made and assembled with a minimum of manufacturing operations and are therefore economical in manufacturing cost. The case is well adapted for combintaion with billfolds having a pass case carrying loop, such a is disclosed and described in my copending application Serial No. 782,080 filed October 25, 1947, now Patent No. 2,531,605 dated November 28, 1950.

If desired the case covers may be made up as in the form of a billfold or other pocket receptacle which is foldable about a transverse line of fold, as shown for example in Fig. 10. In the latter figure the front and rear covers comprise the halves 25 and 25 of the rear wall of a conventional billfold generally indicated at 21, the loop H, constructed as previously described, being carried by the intermediate wall member 28 which with end sections 29 form the inner wall of the bill compartment 3|).

and pass card receiving envelopes, a tongue portion extending from one end of one of the covers, said tongue being of less transverse width than the cover from which it extends, the adjacent end of the other cover being stitched to the first cover at the base of said tongue with said end edges of the covers coinciding, said tongue being bent into loop form with its end included in the stitching which connects the covers, a slotted member to which the pass card envelopes are attached, one at each side thereof fitted over the loop formed by the tongue with the loop extending through the slot, and a pin having a head on one end extending through the loop outwardly of said slotted member to releasably hold said member on the loop.

DOUGLAS J. BROUGHTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,542,124 Halvorsen et al. June 16, 1925 2,082,423 Schade June 1, 1937 2,400,744 Einzig May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 852,364 France Oct. 23, 1939 

